Positive-holding spring latches



Oct. 10, 1967 R. F. ANDERSON 3,345,239

POSITIVE-HOLDING SPRING LATCHES Filed April 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 8- INVENTOR: RALPH F. ANDERSON ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1967 R. F. ANDERSON POSITIVE-HOLDING SPRING LATCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1965 INVENTORI RALPH F-ANDER SON ATTORNEYS United States. Patent 3,346,289 POSITIVE-HOLDING SPRING LATCHES Ralph F. Anderson, Rockford, Ill., assignor to National Lock Co., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 447,377 7 Claims. (Cl. 292175) The present invention relates to positive-holding spring latches for use on cabinet doors in travel trailers, boat galleys and other cabinets where positive retention is required, as well as for latching sliding doors or panels.

There are presently in use numerous types of cabinet latches or catches for cabinet doors. However, in each of these types, the holding power for the latch is relatively weak so that a slight pull on the cabinet door or vibration causes the door to release and swing open. While such prior types of latches or catches have been found satisfactory for kitchen cabinets and furniture in the home, where such cabinets are subjected to vibration or jolting, such as in a mobile home or trailer, these latches do not hold securely so that the cabinet doors may swing or move to open position and thus creating a dangerous situation and permitting the displacement and breakage of articles stored within the cabinets. The present invention obviates these problems by providing a positive-holding latch assembly.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a positive-holding latch for use with swinging and sliding doors or panels, and particularly on cabinets employed on travel trailers, boat galleys and the like subjected to vibration or shifting movements and where positive holding is required. The latch includes a housing mounted on a cabinet door or panel having a latching bolt and a strike mounted on an adjacent cabinet surface. The housing includes a yieldably biased latch bolt cooperating with the strike to positively hold the cabinet door in closed position on the cabinet. 7

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a versatile positive-holding latch in which the latch housing can be adapted for right or left-hand doors of both the offset or overlay design. The latch housing is readily afiixed or anchored onto the back surface of the door.

A further important object of the present invention is the provision of a positive-holding latch which elimi nates the need of a pull or knob for the cabinet door as the latch combines the function of a pull with the catch mechanism, and thus effects a substantial saving. The latch covers the strike when the cabinet door is in closed position resulting in a clean appearance for cabinets with minimum projection beyond the door surface.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of a positive-holding latch with a one-piece housing and mounting flange. The latch member is slidably mounted in the housing and biased to latching position by a compression spring in the housing and cooperating means on the housing and latch bolt limit the extent of reciprocable movement of the latch bolt in the housing.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a positive-holding spring latch which requires simple finger tip compression to open the door. The finger pressure area of contact on the bolt and on the bottom of the housing are embossed or serrated to minimize slippage and provide positive gripping during actuation of the latch bolt and opening of the door.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a latch housing adaptable for use on sliding doors or panels with the housing mounted on the outer edge of the door and the strike mounted on the adjacent jamb. The housing is formed around the edge of the sliding panel with the latch bolt disposed in front of the panel and the 3,346,289 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 ice mounting flange extending along and affixed to the rear surface of the panel or door.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maxi mum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the present latch assembly for use on an overlay door.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the latch assembly of FIG. 1 and showing the strike on the cabinet.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view partially in cross section of the latch assembly.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the strike.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the latch member.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a second embodimerit of the latch assembly for an inset door in which the housing for the latch bolt employs a different form of mounting flange.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the latch of FIG. 8 and strike member secured to the inset door and cabinet, respectively, with the cabinet and door shown in horizontal cross section.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the latch assembly of FIG. 9 with the door omitted.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the latch assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross sectional View of the latch assembly of FIG. 9 taken on the line 1212 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a front elevational View of a third embodiment of latch assembly designed for use with sliding doors.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the latch assembly of FIG. 13 secured to a sliding door with the door and frame shown in horizontal cross section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein are shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIGS. 1 to 7 disclose a latch assembly 10 adapted for use on an overlay cabinet door. The latch assembly 10 includes a mounting flange 11 having slots 12 for receiving screws or suitable securing means 13 to adjustably mount the latch member on the door and a generally rectangular housing 14 formed of a side wall 15 V bent forward at right angles to the flange 11, a front wall 16, an opposite side wall 17 and a rear wall 18, each bent at right angles to the preceding wall to form a hollow generally rectangular tubular housing. A bottom wall or closure 19 is formed integral with the front wall 16 and bent upwardly to a position within the lower edges of the side walls 15 and 17 and the rear wall 18.

The rear wall 18 of the housing is positioned slightly forward of the plane of the mounting flange 11 to allow sutficient space therebehind to accommodate the thickness of a strike member 21 mounted on the cabinet frame. The strike member includes an elongated mounting plate 22 having spaced openings 23 for suitable securing means such as anchoring screws 24 afiixing the strike member 21 to the cabinet 25. A forwardly extending flange 26 at the upper end of the body 22 terminates in a downwardly and inwardly curled lip 27 adapted to cooperate with a latch member or bolt 28.

The latch member or bolt 28 (FIG. 7) is preferably formed of a suitable plastic material and has a generally rectangular or square body 29 conformably received and guided in its movement in the housing 14, and provided with a generally cylindrical projection 31 depending from the lower end within the housing and a latching projection or tooth 32 at the upper end. The latching projection 32 includes an inclined camming surface 33 at the rear thereof and a vertical front wall or latching surface 34 defining the rear edge of a forwardly or laterally extending finger engaging surface 35 provided with a plurality of serrations or embossments 36. Adjacent rear corners of the body 29 of the bolt 28 are cut away at 37 for a portion of their length to provide spaced shoulders at 37 one of which cut-outs 37 receiving an inwardly bent tab 38 formed in the rear wall 18 to limit vertical reciprocation of the latch bolt 28 to the spacing of the shoulders 37 The cut away areas 37 are provided on each rear edge of the latch bolt 28 so that the bolt can be used for either a right-hand or left-hand assembly; FIGS. 1 to showing a right-hand latch.

Within the latch housing is located a compression spring 39 having one end abutting the lower surface of the latch bolt 28 and positioned encompassing the depending projection 31. The opposite end of the spring 39 engages the bottom wall 19 of the housing. The serrated or embossed finger engaging surface 35 extends forwardly at 40 beyond the body of the latch bolt 28 and the front wall 16 of the housing for ease of engagement by the fingertip of the operator. The side walls 15 and 17 and the front wall 16 of the housing are cut away as at 41 to permit the operator to depress the latch bolt by fingertip actuation with the overhanging projection 40 providing a stop when the bolt is fully depressed. Also, the outer surface of the bottom wall 19 is preferably embossed or roughened with score lines to aid in gripping and actuating the latch member and pulling open the door 20.

In use, the strike member 21 is mounted on the cabinet 25 and the mounting flange 11 is secured to the rear or interior surface of the cabinet door 20 so that when the door is closed, the strike member is aligned with and positioned directly behind the rear wall 18 of the housing. To release the latch, the latch bolt 28 is depressed in the housing 14 against the force of the compression spring 39 until the tooth 32 is below the lower edge of the downwardly and inwardly curled lip 27; With the thumb of the operator engaging the embossed bottom wall 19 and a finger engaging the surface 35 to depress the latch bolt 28, pulling the latch member outwardly away from the strike member 21 swings the door 20 to open position.

When the door is closed, the camming surface 33 of the latch bolt 28 engages the lip 27 of the strike member 21 and the latch bolt is cammed downward into 'the housing 14 against the action of the spring 39 until the upper edge of the tooth 32 passes under the lip 27 allowing the spring to quickly bias the latch bolt upwardly to latch the door 20.

' FIGS. 8 to 12 disclose a second embodiment of the latch assembly 42 which is identical with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 except for the mounting flange 43. The latch assembly 42 contains the housing 14 the latch bolt 28 and the compression spring 39 and cooperates with an identical strike member 21 The mounting flange 43 includes a mounting portion or plate 44 having elongated slots 45 for screws or suitable securing means 46, a forwardly extending flange 47 at right angles to the mounting flange 44 and an offset flange 48 parallel to the mounting portion 44 and at right angles to the flange 47. The side wall of the housing 14 is at right angles to the offset flange 48. The flanges 47 and 48 are utilized for an inset door 49 (see FIG. 9). The ope-ration of this latch assembly 42 with its strike 21* is identical to the latch assembly 10.

FIGS. 13 and 14 disclose a third embodiment of the latch assembly 51 which is utilized for a sliding door 52 cooperating with a door frame 53. The strike member 21 is identical with the strike member of the first two embodiments and isrnounted on the frame 53. Again, the latch housing 14 is identical with that of the first two embodiments including the latch bolt 28 and compression spring 39 The mounting flange 54 includes a mounting portion or plate 55 having elongated slots 56 for suitable securing means 57 to mount the latch assembly 51 on the door 52 and a flange 58 extends forward at right angles to the mounting portion 55 and joins the side wall 15b of the housing 14b to form a generally Ushaped member encompassing the end of the door 52.

This embodiment operates in the same manner as the first two embodiments except that the door 52 and latch assembly 51 slides toward and away from the strike member 21b rather than the door swinging about a vertical arms.

In each form of mounting flange or bracket the elongated slots therein for receiving the anchoring screws aid in the final adjustment of the latch members.

Having disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A positive holding latch assembly for a cabinet door for engaging a strike on the frame of the cabinet, comprising a latch assembly secured to a cabinet door and including a mounting flange secured to the interior surface of the cabinet door, a tubular housing integral with and mounted at one side of the flange and including a front wall, parallel side walls and a rear wall, said housing being open at one end, a latch bolt slidably mounted in said housing, a compression spring within the housing spring-biasing the latch bolt to projected position for engaging the strike, means to limit the reciprocatory motion of said latch bolt in the housing, said latch bolt including an outwardly extending latching projection having a latching surface engaging with the strike, a camming surface and a laterally extending finger engaging arm projecting beyond the housing, said strike member having an elongated body secured to the cabient frame and an outwardly extending arm terminating in an inturned end engaging said latching projection, said rear wall of the housing being offset forwardly of the plane of the mounting flange to accommodate the elongated body of the strike member.

2. A positive-holding latch assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the outer surface of the finger engaging arm and the outer surface of the closed end of the housing are embossed to provide finger gripping surfaces for actuation of said latch and providing a pull to be grasped for opening the door.

3. A positive-holding latch assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said latch bolt has an inner projection encompassed by the compression spring.

4. A positive-holding latch assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said cabinet door is a vertically hinged overlay door and the mounting flange is a fiat plate at right angles to the latch housing.

5. A positive-holding latch assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said cabinet door is a sliding door and said mounting flange includes a mounting portion secured to the interior surface of the sliding door and a flange at right angles to the mounting portion and abutting the edge of the door, and said housing is formed at right angles to the last mentioned flange to form a generally U-shaped member encompassing an edge of the sliding door.

6. A positive-holding latch assembly for a cabinet door for engaging a strike on the frame of the cabinet, comprising a latch assembly secured to a cabinet door and including a mounting flange secured to the interior surface of the cabinet door, said cabinet door being a vertically hinged inset door and the mounting flange including a mounting portion and offset portions to conform to the inset in the edge of the door, a tubular housing integral with and mounted at one side of the flange, said housing being open at one end, a latch bolt slidably mounted in said housing, a compression spring within the housing spring-biasing the latch bolt to projected position for engaging the strike, means to limit the reciprocatory motion of said latch bolt in said housing, said latch bolt including an outwardly extending latching projection having a latching surface engaging with the strike, a camming sur face and a laterally extending finger engaging arm projecting beyond the housing, said strike member having an elongated body secured to the cabinet frame, and an outwardly extending arm terminating in an inturned end engaging said latching projection.

7. A positive-holding latch assembly for a cabinet door for engaging and latching onto a strike on the frame of the cabinet, comprising a latch assembly secured to the cabinet door and including a mounting flange secured to the interior surface of the door, a tubular housing integral with said flange having an open upper end and a closed lower end, said housing having parallel side walls one of which is disposed at right angles to the flange, 3. front wall and a rear wall, a plastic latch bolt slidably mounted in said housing having a body portion with a depending projection at the lower end of said body portion, an upwardly extending latching projection having a vertical latching surface and an inclined camming surface, -a finger engaging arm extending forwardly of the latching projection with an end projecting beyond the front wall of the housing, said latch bolt body having a portion of the rear edges cut away to provide spaced stops, a compression spring in said housing having the upper end encompassing the depending projection on said latch bolt and the lower end abutting the closed lower end of said housing, an inwardly extending tab on the rear wall of the housing received in a cut away portion of the latch bolt to engage the stops and limit reciprocation thereof,

said parallel side walls and front wall of the housing being cut away at the upper forward edges to permit finger actuation in depressing the arm to release the latch bolt, said strike member having an elongated mounting body, and a forwardly extending arm at the upper end of the body, said arm terminating in a downwardly and inwardly extending latching projection for engagement with the latching projection on the latch bolt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner.

.T. R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A POSITIVE-HOLDING LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR A CABINET DOOR FOR ENGAGING A STRIKE ON THE FRAME OF THE CABINET, COMPRISING A LATCH ASSEMBLY SECURED TO A CABINET DOOR AND INCLUDING A MOUNTING FLANGE SECURED TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE CABINET DOOR, A TUBULAR HOUSING INTEGRAL WITH AND MOUNTED AT ONE SIDE OF THE FLANGE AND INCLUDING A FRONT WALL, PARALLEL SIDE WALLS AND A REAR WALL, SAID HOUSING BEING OPEN AT ONE END, A LATCH BOLT SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, A COMPRESSION SPRING WITHIN THE HOUSING SPRING-BIASING THE LATCH BOLT TO PROJECTED POSITION FOR ENGAGING THE STRIKE, MEANS TO LIMIT THE RECIPROCATORY MOTION OF SAID LATCH BOLT IN THE HOUSING, SAID LATCH BOLT INCLUDING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING LATCHING PROJECTION HAVING A LATCHING SURFACE ENGAGING WITH THE STRIKE, A CAMMING SURFACE AND A LATERALLY EXTENDING FINGER ENGAGING ARM PROJECTING BEYOND THE HOUSING, SAID STRIKE MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED BODY SECURED TO THE CABINET FRAME AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ARM TERMINATING IN AN INTURNED END ENGAGING SAID LATCHING PROJECTION, SAID REAR WALL OF THE HOUSING BEING OFFSET FORWARDLY OF THE PLATE OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE TO ACCOMMODATE THE ELONGATED BODY OF THE STRIKE MEMBER. 